(CNN) — A university president is putting his money where his mouth is.

Raymond Burse, who leads Kentucky State University as interim president, will give up $90,000 of his salary so that 24 low wage workers on campus can earn $10.25 an hour.

“I did it to bring the lowest wage employees up to a level where I think they should be,” said Burse. “”These are the people who work hard and make the place look good.”

Many of the workers including custodians, grounds keepers, and clerical workers were earning the minimum wage in Kentucky, which is $7.25 an hour.

Burse, whose annual income is about $350,000, said he thought for about eight weeks about the decision to take the pay cut and then brought it to the university’s board. He described the board’s reaction as “shock’ when they found out.